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"There is so much negative publicity and so much incorrect information about plastic. Plastic is a fantastic product that can be reused time and time again and it’s frustrating that we can’t get a voice heard.”

SMEs and larger companies can access facilities and expertise through the Chemistry Clinic in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde, in tackling chemistry related problems.

The annual Dinner Dance for the Scottish Plastics and Rubber Association, the 40th time the polymer community has gathered for such an occasion, was held in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Glasgow on Friday 7 March 2014.

Prototyping was the theme of the February SPRA technical meeting, with a description of, MAKLab, an open access workshop, a tour of the MAKLab facilities and a presentation on prototyping from Fearsomengine.

In November 2013 the British Plastics Federation (BPF) coordinated a letter from the ‘7 Associations Alliance’ to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne ahead of the Autumn Statement, encouraging action on several fronts.

The opening meeting of the SPRA 2013-14 programme, sponsored by SPRA Corporate Member, Avanti Scotland, consisted of a site visit to Avanti’s recycling facility at Alva followed by a presentation in Bridge of Allan.

An attempt by the Scottish Government to introduce a levy on single use carrier bags, as part of its plans to Safeguard Scotland's Resources, is expected to have negligible effect on material resources, environmental impact and litter.

Under the general theme of ‘Plastics Recycling’ the March 2013 SPRA meeting addressed the topics of ‘Plastics Waste from the Marine Environment’, ‘Higher Specification Recyclate’ and ‘Energy from Waste’

The Industry Day organised to showcase research work of the College of Science and Technology at Glasgow University, provided delegates with an insight on innovative science and technology and opportunities for industry to engage with the university.

Two Scottish plastics companies, Rosti UK Ltd and DS Smith Plastics Ltd, provided both the winner and the runner-up in the UK Polymer Apprentice of the Year competition for 2012, organised by Cogent Sector Skills Council and the Worshipful Company of Horners.

Rosti UK Ltd has scooped the Energy and Environmental Award and Engel UK Ltd won the Machinery Supplier Partnership category at the 2011 Plastics Industry Awards while Summit Systems has been recognised as Supplier of the Year by EPPM Magazine.

SPRA President, Fergus Hardie summarised his first year in office as a positive year, with increased membership, a strong technical programme and the introduction of a Schools Lecture "Fantastic Plastics".

SPRA Council Officers reported a strong year for the SPRA with increased membership, particularly Corporate Membership, a strong technical programme, healthy finances and several initiatives to support teachers.

Ross Dickinson received two awards at the UK finals of The Pitch competition for entrepreneurs for his novel Kibosh Emergency Pipe Repair device, which has been designed by Ross and manufactured by Scottish plastics companies.

The Health and Beauty Company, an Aberdeen based company, with links back to the early days of the plastics industry and beyond, has changed its trading name to LIceComb Engineering to reflect more closely its presence as the leading lice comb supplier.

Rosti UK Ltd has scooped the Energy and Environmental Award and Engel UK Ltd won the Machinery Supplier Partnership category at the 2011 Plastics Industry Awards while Summit Systems has been recognised as Supplier of the Year by EPPM Magazine.

SPRA Corporate Member, Sarco Stopper Ltd, has developed a range of pipe stopping solutions for gas, oil, water and foodstuff pipelines using inflatable devices produced from rubber latex by dipping and coating techniques.

Edinburgh bioscience company, Lab901, developers and manufacturers of the ScreenTape System for rapid analysis of DNA and protein, has been acquired by Agilent Technologies Inc, the world’s premier measurement company.

It was a night of celebration for SPRA Corporate Member,Rosti UK at the Plastics Industry Awards 2010. Enjoying its 10th year as a social and business highlight of the UK plastics industry, this year's awards were held at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane on Friday 1st October 2010.

British Polythene Industries can trace its origins over the last 100 years from jute weaving and sacking to one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of polyethylene film and bags and the largest film recycler in Europe.

Organisation News

In November 2013 the British Plastics Federation (BPF) coordinated a letter from the ‘7 Associations Alliance’ to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne ahead of the Autumn Statement, encouraging action on several fronts.

With the support of other local societies in the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, the SPRA organised a public lecture in memory of the prolific Scottish innovator, Robert William Thomson. The inaugural lecture, “Engineering the Future: learning from past innovators”, was delivered by Prof William M Banks, President of the Engineering and Technology Association (Scotland) (SCOTETA)

SPRA hosted a meeting for a delegation from the Shanghai Institute of Advanced Materials to discuss a range of topics including rubber devulcanisation, the Scottish chemical/polymer industry and industry-academic interface.

SPRA Corporate Member, Caledonian Industries used their table top exhibition space at the MERL 'Oilfield Engineering with Polymers' International Conference and Exhibition, in London in September, for useful networking between conference sessions.

Two Scottish plastics companies, Rosti UK Ltd and DS Smith Plastics Ltd, provided both the winner and the runner-up in the UK Polymer Apprentice of the Year competition for 2012, organised by Cogent Sector Skills Council and the Worshipful Company of Horners.

Ross Dickinson received two awards at the UK finals of The Pitch competition for entrepreneurs for his novel Kibosh Emergency Pipe Repair device, which has been designed by Ross and manufactured by Scottish plastics companies.

The Health and Beauty Company, an Aberdeen based company, with links back to the early days of the plastics industry and beyond, has changed its trading name to LIceComb Engineering to reflect more closely its presence as the leading lice comb supplier.

Edinburgh Napier University Polymer Engineering student, Parmar Rushabh Rajendrakumar has been awarded a gold medal for his performance on the Diploma in Polymer Engineering course which he had completed in India.

SPRA student member, Conan McLaren, describes his experiences of an industrial placement at James Walker, specialists in fluid sealing technology, as part of his studies in polymer engineering at Edinburgh Napier University.

It was a night of celebration for SPRA Corporate Member,Rosti UK at the Plastics Industry Awards 2010. Enjoying its 10th year as a social and business highlight of the UK plastics industry, this year's awards were held at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane on Friday 1st October 2010.